Last week’s post offered four No Fee, Cash Prize writing contests. This week’s post shares a fun (and funny) activity that can shake loose writing ideas and get you thinking of new titles and topics: Write Razzie Titles.
In the movie world, Razzies are the opposite of Academy Awards. GRA (Golden Raspberry Awards) are given for the “worst” movies (and actors, directors, etc.) There’s no accounting for choices. A good example is Neil Diamond, nominated for both a Golden Globe award for best actor, and a Razzie for worst actor, for the same 1980’s movie THE JAZZ SINGER.
Just for the fun of it, this week try creating a book, short story or poem title that could win a Razzie award. Years ago my mother was visiting when I was teaching this activity in one of my Writing To Publish classes for high school students. She had a great time—and a lot of laughs—with some of the students’ “bad” titles. Then when they traded titles and wrote the opening lines for another student’s title, the ideas really took shape. This activity is definitely a nonthreatening way to shake loose the cobwebs and fear of writing and come up with creative prompts and writing exercises that lead to real projects.
Oh, how I wish Mom’s dementia would float away so she could again laugh at these titles and maybe even write possible first lines. Because her dementia refuses to budge, I’ll share these actual book titles with you and see what you come up with.
Have fun! (And then get down to business and write.)
Things I Want To Tell My Mother 